Dark Chocolate Smoothie Recipe

Dark chocolate smoothies taste like dessert for breakfast! Add dark chocolate cocoa powder to your healthy smoothie recipe in the morning for an unbelievable burst of rich chocolate yummy flavor. This is the ultimate in that decadent -you won't believe it's sooo good for you flavor! Dark chocolate cocoa powder is so healthy because it's high in polyphenol content, which means it has antioxidant power! It's also high in vitamins. This chocolate is a bit bitter, so the base of the smoothie should be either vanilla flavored yogurt and vanilla almond milk with some agave syrup or honey. Adjust the sweetener according to your desired level.

Chocolate comes from the cacao bean. This bean contains antibacterial agents that fight against tooth decay and help boost your immune system. These agents are diminished once sugar and milk are added to the chocolate to create milk chocolate. Cocao also contains phenyl ethylamine which enhances endorphins and gives you that happy feeling. Researchers have found that the mere smell of chocolate increases theta brain waves inducing relaxation. People who eat dark chocolate are also said to live a year longer -perhaps because of the antioxidant effects or maybe just because they are happier!

\"Smoothie Recipe\"

Smoothies are a great way to sneak in protein and extra vitamins and minerals into your kid's breakfast or snack. Great additions for smoothies are protein powder, bee pollen, lecithin granules and brewers yeast. Go easy on the brewer's yeast because it has a bitter taste the kids will taste!

Dark Chocolate Smoothie Recipe

Dark Chocolate Smoothie Recipe

Rae Haining writes about the benefits of dark chocolate and healthy smoothie recipes at her website FillingLowCalorieFoods.com.

Fruit Smoothie Recipe For a Successful Detox Diet Plan

Many people find that detoxifying their body is a wonderful way to jump start a healthy weight loss plan

But chemically induced detoxification programs are not the answer! A detox diet plan can be entirely natural and still very successful without the stress of potentially harmful chemicals. A natural detox diet plan relies on large amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables to be effective and a good way to get the required amount is in smoothies. Fruit and vegetable smoothies can be prepared as a breakfast, lunch or mid day meal with entirely natural ingredients.

\"Smoothie Recipe\"

Preparing a smoothie that flushes out toxins and promotes energy is actually easy. Smoothies can be made from a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, juices and dairy products that contain exactly the ingredients you need to not only boost your metabolism but are also packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and nutrients needed for good health.

Fruit Smoothie Recipe For a Successful Detox Diet Plan

You can actually make a large number of different smoothies without violating your detox diet plan. Smoothies made with a wide variety of berries, carrots or even dark leafy green vegetables like spinach have a great deal of fiber which is vital to digestion. Making smoothies with citrus fruits like oranges, tangerines, lemons or limes will help flush out toxins. And, fruits with a diuretic effect include cranberries, watermelon, pineapple, kiwi, or cantaloupe to name but a few. Detoxification does not have to be harsh and make you feel uncomfortable. With the right combination it can be natural and healthy.

There is also an easy and effective way to add even more vital nutrients to both your diet and your smoothies by adding In fact, be sure to add 1 Tbsp of Chia seed to all of your fruit smoothies.

If you are unfamiliar with Chia, it is a natural food source that is gluten free, sugar-free, high in fiber and protein, and loaded with Omega-3's! In fact Chia has:

8x more Omega-3 than Atlantic farmed or wild salmon
6x more Calcium than milk
3x more Iron than Spinach
2x more Potassium than bananas
15x more Magnesium than broccoli
2x more Fiber than bran flakes
6x more Protein than kidney beans
4x more Selenium than flax seed
9x more Phosphorus than whole milk
More Antioxidants than blueberries

Chia has no taste of its own and will mix well with all of your smoothie recipes without changing the taste or results.

Try this breakfast smoothie tomorrow and you will be pleasantly surprised at the additional energy you have throughout the day.

1 cup of frozen strawberries
1 large orange, peeled, sectioned and seeded (or 2 tangerines)
1 lime, peeled and seeded
1/2 cup light yogurt (plain or vanilla is recommended)
1 Tbsp Chia

Combine all of these ingredients in your blender and mix until smooth. Sometimes a smoothie can be too thick because of the natural state or ripeness of the fruit you use. If the smoothie is too thick, simply add a few ice cubes and blend again until it reaches the best consistency.

Fruit Smoothie Recipe For a Successful Detox Diet Plan

This, and hundreds more free, healthy fruit and vegetable smoothie recipes can be found at Best Fruit Smoothies.com. We publish a new recipe five days a week.

What Goes Into a Simple Smoothie Recipe?

Smoothies taste better when made at home, just like home cooked meals. This is because they have been made with the best effort using only the best ingredients to be found. The procedure for making a smoothie is simple and accordingly, preparation must also be based on a simple smoothie recipe.

Anyone can make smoothies from scratch. There is no need for pre-mixed powders or pre-packaged ingredients. As long as the basic ingredients are available, a smoothie can be prepared in minutes whenever you are in the mood for a healthy fix.

\"Smoothie Recipe\"

A simple smoothie recipe calls for five basic ingredients: a base, liquid, fruit, additives and flavors. The base is that which gives the smoothie its creamy texture and gives it body. Without the base, the fruit components float to the top and the bottom part would be entirely liquid. Because of the base, the fruit bits float around for quite sometime. The common ingredient used as a base is yoghurt.

What Goes Into a Simple Smoothie Recipe?

The liquid mixture is also as important as the base because it helps to combine the flavors in the smoothie. Putting too much liquid waters down the drink's consistency and makes it thin and could dilute the flavor as well. There are many types of liquid that can be used and these include fruit juice, milk and water. Any one or a combination of these can be mixed into the smoothie, depending on the desired taste. Since there are different kinds of fruit juice, the choice of this ingredient varies with taste as well, although orange is a preferred flavor by many. The usual amount of liquid put into a smoothie is one to two cups.

Fruit is the main ingredient in the simple smoothie recipe and gives the drink its dominant taste. You can be as creative as possible with fruit ingredients, mixing and matching the different flavors. Fresh is preferable but frozen is also acceptable since using them would not diminish the nutritional value of the smoothie. Using frozen fruits will allow you to use a wider range of ingredients because your choices will not be limited to those which are in season. In fact, some people prefer frozen because they result in creamier drinks. So many fruits make good smoothies but the popular ones are bananas, blueberries, mangoes, strawberries, watermelon, peaches and raspberries.

Additives are the substances that you use to make the drink healthier or more delicious. It supplements the ingredients of the simple smoothie recipe. These could include nuts and seeds, green tea or other herbal teas, tofu and coconut oil.

Flavors also enhance smoothie taste. The most favorite is chocolate, which goes well with some fruits like bananas, strawberries and cherries. Others like to add vanilla, cinnamon and coffee. If the fruits' sweetness is not enough, sweeteners are put in. Honey is the recommended sweetener because it is healthy. Refined sugars should not be used because they are not healthy.

A simple smoothie recipe contains ingredients that can readily be found in the household at any time. Thus, it should not take much time and effort to enjoy your first healthy glass of smoothie.

What Goes Into a Simple Smoothie Recipe?

Keep your health at its peak with vegetable smoothies. Read about its benefits at http://www.healthyhomemadesmoothies.com/staying-healthy-with-vegetable-smoothies.html

Fruit Smoothie Recipes: Healthy Smoothies for Diabetics

You may think that smoothies are sweet concoctions that diabetics should avoid at all cost, and you would be wrong. Even if you have diabetes, you can still enjoy all the benefits of a healthy smoothie. You'll find many diabetic-friendly smoothie recipes that are low in carbohydrates and fats yet high in vitamins, minerals and proteins. Be sure to use whole fruits to get the maximum benefits out of healthy smoothies for diabetics.

We have a number of smoothie recipes below that call for fruits. These recipes are diabetic-friendly for the following reasons:

Smoothie

1. They do not include refined sugar
2. These recipes use fresh or frozen whole fruits. Fruits are high in dietary fiber and they contain complex carbohydrates.
3. Some smoothie recipes contain flax seed or wheat germ. These super foods help keep blood sugar at normal levels.
4. These smoothies are low-calorie and low in carbohydrates. Diabetics and non-diabetics alike can enjoy these healthy smoothies.

Fruit Smoothie Recipes: Healthy Smoothies for Diabetics

To enjoy the following recipes, combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Serve and enjoy!

Strawberry & Banana Breakfast Smoothie

• 1 cup skim milk
• 3/4 cup low-fat yogurt
• 1/2 cup silken tofu
• 1 small banana
• 1-1/4 cups strawberries, preferably frozen
• 1/2 cup crushed ice

Blueberry & Banana Smoothie

• 1 cup skim milk
• 3/4 cup low-fat yogurt
• 1/2 cup silken tofu
• 1 banana, peeled and sliced
• 3/4 cup blueberries
• 1/2 cup crushed ice

Banana Smoothie

• 2 ripe bananas, peeled and sliced (preferably frozen)
• 1/4 cup low-fat vanilla or fruit yogurt
• 2 cups low-fat milk
• 2 tbsp wheat germ or oat bran
• Ground nutmeg to taste (optional)

Mixed Berry Smoothie

• 1 cup frozen berries of your choice
• 1/4 cup low fat vanilla yogurt
• 1 tbsp malted milk powder
• 2 tsp wheat germ or oat bran
• 1 egg or egg substitute (optional)

Green Smoothie for Diabetics

• 2 cups water
• 2-3 cups lightly packed baby spinach leaves (preferably organic)
• 1 pear
• 1/2 to 1 banana
• 1/4 tsp cardamom
• 1-2 tbsp chia seeds (soak in 2 cups water for a while)

TIP: Chia seeds are high in fiber, calcium, protein, antioxidants and omega-3. You can buy them at health stores.

Strawberry Flax Smoothie

• 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
• 1/2 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt
• 1/2 cup skim milk
• 3 tbsp flax meal
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Fruit Smoothie Recipes: Healthy Smoothies for Diabetics

Visit http://healthysmoothieshq.com now to learn much more about smoothies, specially about smoothies for diabetics.

How to - A Fruit Smoothie For Diabetics

Everybody loves blender smoothies, young and old alike. But people with diabetes would need to be careful in the type and amount of food they have an intake of ... and smoothies are definitely part of the foods that they should watch out for.

My grandmother - she has type 2 diabetes mellitus, a disease where the body cannot regulate glucose in the blood - loves smoothies so much, even before she was diagnosed. Her diet is now controlled with weight loss programs, exercises and oral medications in tow. But she would never give up her beloved smoothies. But instead of regular, classic smoothies (with just fruit and some milk), she was advised to include yogurt in the drink.

Smoothie

Apparently, clinical studies on yogurt and mice showed that engineered microbes and probiotics (the good bacteria) have shown much promise in Mickey's diabetic relatives. While the studies aren't conclusive yet, some diabetics have decided to have a go at it, my grandma included.

How to - A Fruit Smoothie For Diabetics

Here are some recipes that she already tried without any damaging effect on her newfound lifestyle:

- Strawberry lovers can try this with a smile on their lips: Blend 8 ounces of plain nonfat yogurt, one-fourth cup of skim milk, and 3 packets of Equal sweetener (or 1 teaspoon of Equal). With blender on, open the top lid and gradually add 3 cups of frozen strawberries. Blend until smooth. Add ice cubes and blend and process until smooth. (Nutritional value: 76 calories, 0 grams of fat, 2 mg of cholesterol, 54 mg of sodium, 0 grams of saturated fat, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 14 grams of sugar, 4 grams of protein, 16 grams of carbohydrates.)

- Grandma is a coffee lover and gives herself a once-a-week treat by making this smoothie: Blend 3 cups fat-free milk (not low-fat, mind you), a cup of water, half a cup of sugar-free chocolate flavored syrup, 2 teaspoons of instant coffee granules and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Add 1 quart of vanilla sugar-free and fat-free ice cream in the blender. Blend until creamy. Note: most blenders are a bit small for this recipe, so you can pour half of the coffee mix in a bowl and put in half of the ice cream. Blend until creamy; pour in a pitcher. Combine remaining chocolate mix and ice cream and repeat process. (Nutritional value: 124 calories, 2 grams of fat, 7.2 grams of protein, 25.1 grams of carbohydrates, 1 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of dietary fiber, 2 mg of cholesterol, 125 mg of sodium.)

Diabetics are no different from non-diabetics - they still need the basic food groups, much like what other people need. So it gives them the right to enjoy what others enjoy too. Drinks up!

How to - A Fruit Smoothie For Diabetics

Low fat smoothie. Click on the link for more info.

Shrinking Fibroids Smoothie Recipe

If you are looking for ways of shrinking fibroids, your diet is a great starting point. Although to completely eliminate fibroids, you will need to use a multifaceted approach to eliminate all the root causes of your fibroids, there is no doubt that modifying your diet is an absolute necessity.

Indeed, there is evidence to suggest that by cutting out certain food groups and introducing cleansing and nutrition-rich foods, you can begin to ease some of your fibroid symptoms.

\"Smoothie Recipe\"

With so much dietary information out there, most of us know the principles of healthy eating. Eating a low-fat diet, rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and lean meats and fish is recommended for most people. As far as fibroids are concerned, extra care should be taken to eliminate any foods which have been sprayed with pesticides and any which contain artificial additives. In addition, stay clear of any meat products, such as salamis and sausages.

Shrinking Fibroids Smoothie Recipe

Concentrating some of the best sources of foods for shrinking fibroids into smoothies is a good way to get a high dose of some of the essential nutrients. One of my favorites is below-enjoy!

Apricot, Apple and Flaxseed Smoothie

3 fresh pitted apricots
1/2 medium apple cut into chunks
2 tablespoons of flaxseeds
1/8 cup lemon juice
1 cup pure water
Dash of cinnamon
Stevia to taste

Soak the flaxseeds overnight and drain. Add all the ingredients and blend until smooth. Add more water if necessary.

Like many things worthwhile, changing your diet is never easy, but the effort will be worth it in the long run. Once you begin to see positive results in respect of your shrinking fibroids, it's not so difficult to stick to the changes you have made.

Shrinking Fibroids Smoothie Recipe

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Written by a former fibroid sufferer, the system you are about to see is, quite simply, groundbreaking, and I am confident that you will feel relief that you have finally found something that will genuinely help. In addition, you will get a free copy of a 14 day meal planner specifically designed for shrinking fibroids.

One of the outstanding features of this comprehensive system is the 3 months free one-to-one email support offered by the author.

Smoothie Diet - Will the Smoothie Diet Work For You?

Many people wonder if the smoothie diet will work to help them lose weight. Well, I am living proof that it really does work. I lost over 10 pounds in 2 weeks the first time I did it.

If you follow the right plan, the weight can come off pretty darn quick for you too.

Smoothie

The smoothie method for losing weight is essentially a low calorie diet where you substitute your usual meals with a fruit or vegetable smoothie.

Smoothie Diet - Will the Smoothie Diet Work For You?

For those of you that like smoothies like the ones you can get at Jamba Juice or a smoothie store, you will find this diet very delicious and satisfying.

For smoothie enthusiasts - let me tell you - when you do this, it will not feel like you are dieting at all. You will not feel deprived like you do on most diets.

And if you do it right you won't suffer from those awful hunger pains. This is not a starvation diet - this is a healthy nutritious delicious meal replacement diet that you do short term to supercharge weight loss and flood your body with living foods that give you lots of nutrition and vitamins.

So how does drinking smoothies help you lose weight? Smoothies when made correctly and nutritiously can fill you up so you are NOT hungry and you won't be tempted to eat forbidden high calorie foods.

Can you lose weight fast? It depends.... if you follow the wrong plan you may end up drinking smoothies that are high calorie and low in nutritional value.  You know, it is the same way that you can ruin a healthy salad by pouring half a container of high fat dressing on it.

If you follow my favorite smoothie regimen you can be sure to get smoothies that are not only delicious but are low calorie wonderfully healthy meals.

Losing weight is a simple equation: when you burn more calories than you eat, the weight will come off.  With my favorite smoothies, it makes this equation come out perfect every time. The smoothie diet can speed up your weight loss in a big way, and you don't really want to lose weight slow, do you?

Smoothie Diet - Will the Smoothie Diet Work For You?

Click to learn more about Weight Loss Smoothies and the EASY Smoothie Diet

http://SmoothieWeightLossGuide.com/

Green Smoothie Benefits

Green smoothies have grown increasing popular as of late, due to the many proven benefits. These smoothies are made with healthy leafy green vegetables blended into them. The main ingredients of smoothies are various fruits, such as strawberries, bananas, raspberries and other delicious varieties of fruit. In fact, the majority of the ingredients are fruit, which is why smoothies taste so sweet and delicious. However, the inclusion of healthy green vegetables gives an added health boost, making green vegetable smoothies much more nutritious than traditional fruit smoothies.

There are many health benefits that come with introducing green smoothies into your diet. There are dozens of benefits that have been experienced time and time again by those who choose enjoy blended vegetables in their daily diets. These green smoothie benefits include increased energy, weight loss, prevention of a number of illnesses and chronic conditions, better athletic performance, and faster recovery time following injuries, to name a few. The more of these healthy smoothies you enjoy the better your health will become over all.

Smoothie

Why is it that there are so many wonderful green smoothie benefits? The several health benefits that come from these smoothies are a result of high levels of fiber and antioxidants in the vegetables used. Green smoothies contain a number of healthy vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, such as calcium, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin E, omega 3 fatty acids, tryptophan, folate, potassium, and high levels of fiber. As important as the healthy elements in green smoothies are, the many unhealthy elements that they lack are just as important. These include saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, high fructose corn syrup, refined sugars, artificial flavors, MSG, hormones, and other harmful elements found in many of the things we eat on a daily basis.

Green Smoothie Benefits

By avoiding the unhealthy qualities foods found in most and adding in a daily dose of healthy antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber, you can improve your health ten-fold. The more vegetables you eat the better health you will have, and adding vegetables is so much easier in a tasty smoothie. If you want to improve your immune system, lose weight, prevent diseases and cancers and increase your energy, you should definitely consider including green smoothies in your diet!

Green Smoothie Benefits

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Bike Review - Soma Smoothie Steel Road Bike

Not everyone wants a carbon fiber road bike. Whether it's price, durability or versatility, sometimes steel bikes are better option. If you've been riding for a while you will remember how a good steel frame rides. Smooth and snappy. The Soma Smoothie is a modern version of that classic steel road bike.

Soma Fabrications is a small company in San Fransisco that started with the aim of offering good quality steel frames for road, mountain and cyclocross. Now they have a wide selection of accessories and components available as well but the focus is still on offering good frames to serious cyclists. All of their frames are made from Tange Prestige heat treated double butted tubes. This was the top tubing a number of years ago but now if lets them offer a great quality frame at a reasonable price.

Smoothie

As Soma doesn't make complete bikes, if you want Soma Smoothie you will start with a frames and build it up how ever you like. At my shop we do a lot of custom builds on Soma frames. What I like about them is that they are well made but not common so you get a bike that isn't just another cookie cutter model from a globo-bike-company. I'm not against the big companies but there is something cool about having a unique bike.

Bike Review - Soma Smoothie Steel Road Bike

The Soma Smoothie that I tested was built up very middle of the road with an ITM Basic carbon fork, Shimano 105 components and a set of hand build wheels with Alex Pro 28 rims. The weight of the complete bike without pedals came in at 19.7 lbs with a 54 cm frame. Not a feather weight but reasonable for the price.

Not to sound cliche, but the Smoothie lives up to it's name. The ride is very smooth and comfortable. It gives good road feel but the bumps are muted. Because of this you may be a slight bit slower in the first half of a ride compared to people on race bikes but faster in the second half as you haven't been beaten up as much.

During peak power efforts like sprints and out of the saddle climbs there is a little more flex than my carbon race bike but not enough to cause the rim to rub the brake. Just a gentle give the returns the energy with the next pedal stroke. The subtle give the frame has combined with a balanced geometry make this an awesome cornering bike. Downhill corners feel like you sling shot out of them. Unlike stiffer bikes, the Soma Smoothie holds a line without skipping out when pushed to the maximum.

The goal of the Smoothie isn't an all out race bike but a comfortable riding machine that will let you ride strong for long days and charity rides. It will still let you hold your own on the local group ride as long as you have the legs but racing isn't it's forte. The Soma Smoothie comes in 7 sizes and two color (blue and white).

Bike Review - Soma Smoothie Steel Road Bike

It's in you to become a better cyclist. Helping you get there is my goal. Equipment, riding skills, fitness and nutrition all have to be dialed in to reach your potential. To take your next step on that journey visit http://www.cyclecambridge.com

Six Smoothie Recipes For Constipation and Acne Relief

I recommend drinking a morning smoothie if you have constipation or if you have skin problems like acne. Drinking a high fiber smoothie relieves and prevents constipation. It will also provide the nutrients that are necessary for having or keeping a nice clean and smooth skin.

So, here are the six smoothie recipes you can blend.

Smoothie

* Apple Smoothie
* Apple-Barley Smoothie
* Apricot Smoothie
* Peach-Rice Dream Smoothie
* Pineapple Smoothie
* Strawberry Smoothie

Six Smoothie Recipes For Constipation and Acne Relief

Apple Smoothie

Mix in the blender the following.

1-2 small apples cut into wedges
1 banana
1 cup 50:50 rice dream: almond milk
¼ cup or less of raisins soaked overnight
1-teaspoon honey
1-2 cubes of ice
1-teaspoon lecithin granules
2 tablespoons flax seed oil

Start by mixing the banana and the liquids. Then add slices of apples to get the consistency you like. In all of your smoothies add flax seed oil for nice smooth skin. I also add a tablespoon of flax seed straight into the blender and the blender will chop them up.
Apple-Barley Smoothie

Mix in the blender the following.

1 cup of sliced apples with peel
1/2 cup of cooked barley
1/4 cup of soaked raisins
1/4 teaspoon of vanilla flavoring
1-1 ½ cup of 50:50 rice dream: almond milk
1-teaspoon lecithin granules
2 Tablespoons flax seed oil

Make sure you use the lecithin granules in these smoothies since lecithin helps to breakdown the flax oil into tiny droplets and makes it more digestible.

Apricot Smoothie

One cup of fresh apricots or dried apricots that were soaked overnight
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
Two oz. of prune juice
One teaspoon or more of oat ban
One teaspoon of mineral whey
One tablespoon of flax seed oil
One tablespoon of lecithin granules

Add a slight amount of distilled water or ice cubes to make the consistency to your liking. This smoothie is good for constipation and acne.

Peach-Rice Dream Smoothie

Mix in the blender:

2 fresh peaches with peel
1-cup rice dream
1/2 banana
1-teaspoon sesame seeds
1-teaspoon sunflower seed
1-tablespoon lecithin granules
2 tablespoons flax seed oil

In place of rice dream you can use almond milk. I now only use almond milk to make my smoothies. Place all of the seeds straight into the blender. This smoothie has plenty of fiber. You may want to increase the amount of sesame and sunflower seeds.

Pineapple Smoothie

Mix the following in a blender.

1-2 cups of fresh pineapples
1/2 cups apple slices
1/4-cup fresh apple juice
1/2-cup almond milk (more or less as needed)
1 banana
1-tablespoon lecithin
2-tablespoons flax seeds
2 teaspoons bran (wheat, oat or rice)

You can add more lecithin if you like. Lecithin does not have a taste. This smoothie is jam packed with fiber.

Strawberry Smoothie

Mix in a blender the following ingredients.

1 banana
1-tablespoon of lecithin granules
1-teaspoon of any type of bran
1 cup or more 50:50 rice dream: almond milk
Now add strawberries one by one with the blender on until you get the consistency you like.
1-tablespoon flax seeds
1 or 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
1-teaspoon sesame seeds
1 tablespoon of flax seed oil

You can add liquid minerals or vitamins to these smoothies and give them an additional nutritional value.

There you have the smoothies that I make. Start making and drinking them and see the health benefits that you'll get.

Six Smoothie Recipes For Constipation and Acne Relief

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Healthy Fruit Smoothies and Their Benefits

We are recommended to have our five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Adhering to this requirement means eating a bowl of salad and having fruit with every meal, a task which most of us find quite daunting. Smoothies provide a great way to make us eat healthy. All we have to do is mix together the servings of fruits and vegetables with some liquid, and drink it.

Because of the ingredients they contain, healthy fruit smoothies are full of vitamins and minerals which are essential for good health. There is no limit to the kind of fruit or fruit combination's that you can come up with; they can be simple or exotic. The choice largely depends on taste and nutritional needs. Using fresh or frozen ones does not matter much since they still have the same nutrients. People may vary in their tastes but some fruits are more commonly used than others. Three of the most popular are bananas, blueberries and strawberries.

\"Smoothie Recipe\"

Bananas are great when mixed with nuts or peanut butter. The result is a very creamy drink which is a favorite for many. To make this banana smoothie, you have to mix 2 medium bananas with raw nuts, vanilla stevia and 1 pear with a half cup of water into a blender and blend for 20 seconds. In less than a minute, a healthy beverage can be enjoyed. This drink is full of potassium, a mineral which has been to help in maintaining a healthy circulatory system and is used in the proper functioning of muscles. It also regulates the acid levels in the stomach and lowers the risk of developing stomach ulcers. The fiber content aids in digestion as well.

Healthy Fruit Smoothies and Their Benefits

Blueberries are one of nature's most powerful antioxidants and their benefits are numerous. This fruit prevents urinary tract infections, prevents macular degeneration of the eyes, slows down aging, promotes brain function, prevents constipation, aids in digestion, prevents and cures cancer and boosts the immune system. This is due to the antibiotic properties of blueberries as well as the carotenoids and flavonoids contained in them, along with vitamins, zinc, phosphorus and selenium. If you want to achieve these benefits, try blending 1 banana and 1 cup of blueberries with vanilla stevia, lemon juice, a cup of water and ice cubes. You can then enjoy your glasses of blueberry-flavored healthy fruits smoothies.

Among the three top fruit ingredients, strawberries are perhaps the most well-known. An easy-to-make smoothie recipe calls for 1 banana, 1cup strawberries, vanilla stevia, a teaspoon of lemon juice, a cup of water and ice cubes. Because strawberry is very versatile, other fruits can be added to this basic mixture. Strawberries are good for the heart. It lowers the level of bad cholesterol and raises the level of the good ones. It regulates blood pressure and keeps it normal. Aside from these properties, the fruit contains antioxidants that combat cell damage. What's more, it is very low in calories and has no cholesterol and sodium.

These healthy fruit smoothies indeed provide us with what our bodies needs. We must be thankful that being fit is within anybody's reach, if only we are willing to commit to living a healthy lifestyle.

Healthy Fruit Smoothies and Their Benefits

Fruit smoothies are great for breakfast or any time of the day. Learn the basics of smoothie preparation at http://www.healthyhomemadesmoothies.com/smoothie-how-to-the-basics-of-preparation.html

Breakfast Smoothie Recipes for Weight Loss

I love to make breakfast smoothie recipes for weight loss because not only is having a healthy breakfast important for the day, but making it with fresh fruit and greens is an effective and healthy way to get all the vital nutrients you need to start your day and your metabolism! But there are some things you need to take into consideration when making these delicious treats, and that's the quality of the ingredients and the power of the blender you are going to be using. Also keep in mind that the quality of the water or juice you use can greatly affect the taste and health of your smoothie too!

Now the first thing to making sure you have the healthiest weight loss breakfast smoothie is to use only organic ingredients so that you can avoid putting nasty toxins and other chemicals into your food. Organic produce also happens to be much tastier and more dense in terms of nutrients per volume, so you are more likely to get the extra fiber and nutrients you need to help keep your body burning fat longer and and more effectively. They also can be purchased affordably by using frozen produce which is often available year round compared to fresh seasonal produce.

\"Smoothie Recipe\"

Now another important factor to consider is the blender itself, and I like to use high powered blenders made by blendtec or vitamix brands. This is because they provide the highest horsepower motors for there blenders which means the produce gets chopped up a lot better, which makes for a more consistent smoothie. This is not only important for taste, but also for health too because by emulsifying the ingredients you make them more "bio available" or easier to digest, so that your digestive system will absorb more of the nutrients!

Breakfast Smoothie Recipes for Weight Loss

A great starter recipe is a strawberry banana weight loss smoothie. The basic recipe is:
-2 cups filtered water
-3-4 fresh strawberries
-1 whole banana in frozen chunks
-1 cup of non fat organic Greek yogurt
-1 tsp of organic ground Stevia for a safe and natural 0 calorie sweetener

Then all you have to do is toss your water into the blender first, then add in your Greek yogurt next. Follow that up with the fresh strawberries and then finally add in your frozen banana chunks and sweetener. Then all you have to do is blend until you get your desired consistency and enjoy!

Breakfast Smoothie Recipes for Weight Loss

Visit my smoothie recipes site for more free smoothies!

I also have another smoothie recipe site that has some more yummy smoothie recipes that can help you lose weight.

Should You Juice Or Should You Blend? The Case For Whole Fruits and Vegetables

To Juice Or Not To Juice...

I've been down the juicing road. Load up the juicer squeeze out what seems like a tiny bit of juice for the amount of fruit I had used. Then one day I was looking at all the pulp that is left behind and it hit me! That pulp is full of vitamins and fiber, and I'm just throwing it away! Well that stopped my juicing days and started my blending days. Fruits are almost entirely sugar (fructose) but a whole fruit also contains plenty of fiber and vitamins that are lost when you just use it for the juice.

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Once I stopped juicing and started blending I realized that I could mix and match fruits and vegetables into fantastic smoothies that could satisfy my nutritional needs in one great drink! Spinach is especially well suited to a fruit blender drink. It's delicate flavor blends right in and you really can't tell it's there. Mixed with berries, carrots and banana, spinach adds a good dose of the greens you really need but don't always take the time to eat. If you buy spinach in large packages, it's less expensive and can be put directly in the freezer and used as needed in your blender drinks. It freezes perfectly into little spinach chips and is a snap to toss right into your drinks. You can also use broccoli, tomato paste, pumpkin, sweet peppers, parsley, cabbage and beets. Just about any fruit or vegetable is worth a try. Go for a wide variety and get the most nutritional bang for your buck.

Should You Juice Or Should You Blend? The Case For Whole Fruits and Vegetables

Juice is one of those drinks that many people perceive as healthy, especially when it's labeled natural or organic and it says it's made from all natural ingredients. Lets be clear about this right now, juice is NOT part of a healthy eating plan. It is a much better idea to use the whole fruit or vegetable. Aren't we all trying to get enough fiber in our diets? Why throw those vitamins out?

So here's how you do it. Choose your fruit. Blueberries are fantastic and you won't have the seeds found in raspberries or blackberries. Bananas give the smoothie a creamy texture. Peaches, strawberries, melons, are all good. The fruit you use is a personal choice. I recommend buying fruit in season and chopping it up and freezing it for your drinks. Start with spinach and then experiment with other greens. Decide what you like, you can add as much or as little as your want. Put it all in the blender and use the liquid of your choice to blend it up. Here is where you might want to indulge in a little grape juice. Some people like it blended with just water. Others enjoy using soy or rice milk and adding cinnamon. Yogurt is also a great addition. Use just enough liquid to blend and enjoy! Using frozen ingredients creates a delicious frozen drink like a fruit milkshake. What a great way to get all the fruits and vegetables you need, and your kids will love it too!

Should You Juice Or Should You Blend? The Case For Whole Fruits and Vegetables

Kristin Alexander is a writer, web designer and marketer

Reach Her at Kristin@ireviewebooks.com

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How to Make the Perfect Frozen Fruit Smoothie Recipe

At my house, we just love frozen fruit smoothies. They are simple to make and are actually good for you. You can make these delicious cool drinks with just about any type of fruit or even combine different types of fruit. Let me explain exactly how to make a frozen fruit smoothie. It is quite simple.

To Make These Amazing Smoothies You Will Need:

\"Smoothie Recipe\"

We'll start with the equipment. You will need a blender to make good smoothies. A regular blender will do the job. A small, personal blender like the magic bullet is nice to have because you can customize each smoothie. Of course regular blenders work just as well, plus you can make more servings at a time.

How to Make the Perfect Frozen Fruit Smoothie Recipe

Frozen fruit comes next. Frozen smoothies can be made with all sorts of different fruit and and feel free to mix and match as well. Great fruit to start with is strawberry, peach and banana.

Yogurt makes another great addition to just about any smoothie. They give it a nice tangy flavor and creamy texture. Low or non-fat yogurts are the most figure-friendly, but you can use any type of yogurt as well as any flavor. You can also use Greek yogurt which is thicker and has more protein per serving.

The last ingredient you need in your smoothie is a liquid to thin the drink out and make it blendable. You can use water, milk or your favorite juice. Add just enough liquid to get the smoothie to the consistency you like. A good ratio to use is 2-1-1 (frozen fruit - yogurt - liquid). A good example would be 2 cups frozen strawberries blended with 1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt and 1 cup skim milk.

Add more or less liquid until your smoothie gets the consistency you like best. You can also throw in a few ice cubes and blend them into your smoothie

Time to Blend:

Let's talk about blending. Start by blending the fruit and yogurt a little, then add your liquid and blend away. If your blender has a pulsing function (most do) use it. It allows any larger piece of fruit to sink back down to the bottom and get chopped up. That way you will end up with a nice smooth smoothie.

If your blender starts working too hard, it's time to add a little more liquid to make sure everything moves around well.

For smoothie recipes that call for ice in it, start with the ice and chop it up in your blender before you add the remaining ingredients. It will help mix the other ingredients together.

I tend to make most of my frozen fruit smoothies with only frozen fruit, but you can also use a combination of fresh and frozen. You can purchase the frozen fruit at the store, or freeze your own when it is in season. It is very easy to freezer berries for example. Just put them in a freezer bag and freeze them whole.

Slices of frozen banana make a great addition to just about any fruit smoothie. Whenever you find yourself with a banana that's getting a little too ripe, peel it, and then slice it. Put them into a freezer bag and freeze until you need them for a smoothie. Adding them gives your smoothie a nice creamy texture and adds some sweetness as well.

How to Make the Perfect Frozen Fruit Smoothie Recipe

Make the perfect smoothie with this strawberry smoothie recipe. Try it and you can find more smoothie recipes at http://healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com/category/recipes/smoothies

6 Healthy Banana Smoothie Recipes

Are you a smoothie lover? Looking for some new smoothie recipes that use bananas? If so, I would like to share 6 of my favorite banana flavored smoothie recipes with you.

Why are banana smoothies good for you? Bananas are high in potassium and low in sodium making them the ideal healthy fruit. Bananas are great for reducing depression, achieving bone and intestinal health, and for regulating high blood pressure.

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All of these smoothie recipes use bananas, along with some additional ingredients. If you are looking to cut calories, you can substitute the milk with skim milk, or the ice cream with low-fat yogurt.

6 Healthy Banana Smoothie Recipes

If you like your smoothies really sweet, try adding 1-2 tablespoons of honey to your recipe. I always serve my smoothies in a chilled glass but you can serve them any way that you like. You can drink them straight from the glass, use a straw or eat them with a spoon. It is best to always serve your smoothies immediately.

Banana Mango

1 c. cubed peeled ripe mango
3/4 c. sliced ripe banana
2/3 c. milk
1 tsp. honey
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine all of the above ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana

1 medium banana
1 1/4 c. milk
1 c. chocolate ice cream
1/4 c. creamy peanut butter

Cut the banana into 1" pieces. Wrap pieces in foil and freeze. Unwrap the banana pieces. In blender container combine banana, milk, chocolate ice cream and peanut butter. Cover and blend until smooth.

Blueberry Nana

5 oz. Frozen blueberries
2 bananas
2 c. ice
1 c. water

Put all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.

Kiwi Banana

1 c. milk
2 scoops vanilla ice-cream
1 ripe banana, sliced
2 Kiwi fruit, peeled and finely diced

Blend the milk, ice-cream, and banana together in a blender till smooth. Add the Kiwi fruit, blend briefly, then pour into glasses.

Banana Cantaloupe

1/2 sliced cantaloupe melon
1 peeled banana
1 c. vanilla ice cream
1 tbsp. honey

Mix all of the above ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth.

Boysenberry and Banana

3/4 c. boysenberries
1/2 c. low-fat boysenberry yogurt or vanilla yogurt
1/2 banana, sliced
1/2 c. grape juice

Add all ingredients to a blender and puree until well blended (about 1 minute).

6 Healthy Banana Smoothie Recipes

Shelly Hill has been working from home in Direct Sales since 1989. Shelly is a Manager with Tupperware. You can contact Shelly at:
Web: http://www.classybusinesswomen.com
Recipe Blog: http://wahmshelly.blogspot.com

Top 10 Best Smoothie Recipes

There are two good reasons to make a healthy recipe smoothie: 1) They taste great; and 2) They are filled with lots of fruit that have health benefits for your body. Here's a sample of popular smoothie recipes that can be a positive addition to your daily diet.

Orange Julius Smoothie - This is a delicious drink made with orange juice, milk, and vanilla extract. The Orange Julius franchise is responsible for creating this popular smoothie, and if you can find an Orange Julius location in your town, you'll be in for a real treat.

\"Smoothie Recipe\"

Strawberry Orange Smoothie - Made with fresh or frozen strawberries, orange juice and honey. A wonderful sunkissed drink to help you wake up in the mornings.

Top 10 Best Smoothie Recipes

Chocolate Banana Smoothie - Made with a ripe banana, chocolate syrup and milk. A healthier way to get your chocolate fix!

Classic Blueberry Smoothie - Made with fresh or frozen blueberries, frozen juice and yogurt. Blueberries have lots of antioxidants, so you can enjoy this knowing you're helping your body stay strong and healthy.

Tropical Five Fruit Smoothie - Made with banana, kiwi, mango, papaya and orange juice. Escape to the tropics with this exotic blend of flavors. Mangoes are packed with vitamins. A great energy recipe smoothie.

Creamsicle Smoothie - Made with fresh cantaloupe melon, orange juice, vanilla extract and honey. This yummy drink will remind you of the ice cream version you enjoyed on lazy summer days as a child.

Berry Brainstorm Smoothie - Made with frozen strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, juice and yogurt. The official drink of superheroes and people who need extra brain power to accomplish amazing tasks. A great frozen fruit smoothie recipe.

Pina Colada Smoothie - Made with pineapple, banana, coconut and milk. A tasty slimmed-down version of the popular alcoholic drink. The real pina colada has 644 calories--ouch!

Cherry Vanilla Smoothie - Made with frozen cherries, raspberries, vanilla yogurt and milk. If you love cherries drenched in creamy vanilla, this is your smoothie.

Creamy Coffee Smoothie - Made with instant coffee, sugar and heavy cream. Okay, maybe it's a little heavy on the calorie side, but this is a great way to add variety to your daily java routine.

Top 10 Best Smoothie Recipes

Donna Monday You can find all of the above smoothie recipes and more by visiting this site and clicking on the Milkshake-n-Smoothie link. [http://www.best-free-cooking-recipes.com]

Best Weight Loss Smoothie Recipes

There are tons of people who are quickly turning to the use of their own home blenders and creating power smoothies for their workout journey!

Why should you do the same? Well, let's just say that you will get tons of incredible benefits when you are trying to lose weight.

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There are studies that prove that soy-based smoothies can help you lose weight up to three times as faster than a person who doesn't use the same thing.

Best Weight Loss Smoothie Recipes

It's a great thing that you should definitely start embracing today!

Drinking/Eating a smoothie also has something that is proven to be an "appetite" suppressant - not only will you consume tons of nutrients, but it will also reduce your urge to eat and your overall body's addiction to fatty and salty foods; something that will cause you to gain weight quickly!

It just keeps you full for hours - imagine making a smoothie with soy & whey protein, yogurt, fibers, fruit nutrients, etc; it's just an incredible way to lose weight as long as you follow the correct recipes!

Not to mention that smoothies can give you the perfect breakfast - power breakfasts are the most important part of ANY diet and can help lose that appetite all the way after you lunch-time schedule - it's that great with nutrients, and helps your body lose the weight quickly.

If you add protein to your weight loss smoothie - you'll have a heightened metabolism, which can lead to a heighten energy level, self-esteem level, and can make you much more productive throughout the day! Do you see why Weight Loss smoothies are the way to go?

Protein helps you build muscle - even if you do not want to be super bulk, protein will help you get that muscle mass to reduce the fat - remember, muscle build helps reduce muscle fat - so the real question is: Finally - what are the smoothie recipes?

Banana Smoothie

Step #1 - Make sure that you have a blender and about 5 ice cubes - more or less.
Step #2 - 7 &1/2 to 8 ounces of soy milk [soy milk is definitely the most healthy]
Step #3 - Two Tablespoons of Vanilla [Preferably Herbalife French Vanilla Mix]
Step #4 - ½ of a Banana [Fruit]

In a Rush? - Try "Fruit Juice" Recipe"

Step #1 - Add 8 oz of Fruit Juice from your local Grocery or Convenience Store
Step #2 - Add Herbalife French Vanilla Formula #1
Step #3 - Shake it
Step #4 - No need to take it out of the container - unless you want to of course

Banana-Strawberry Fruit Smoothie Recipe

Add One Frozen Banana
Add 5-7 Frozen Strawberries
1 and One-Fourth Cup of Water [preferably cold of course]
1 TableSpoon of Skim Milk Powder
1 Tablespoon of Whey Protein or Soy Protein Powder [Add a Little extra if wanted]
1 Table Spoon of Flax oil

Best Weight Loss Smoothie Recipes

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Easy To Make Top Notch Smoothie Yogurt Recipe

Yogurt smoothies are very easy and fun to make. Anyone can quickly make their own yogurt smoothie recipe. The most fun part of making the smoothie is watching how quickly it is created right before your eyes.

Of course you will need a good quality blender that can handle chopping ice cubes. To make your own yogurt smoothie recipe first add a half cup of your favorite unsweetened fruit juice to the blender pitcher. Then add a half cup of vanilla or plain yogurt and three quarters cup of your favorite fresh frozen fruit. Lastly add five ice cubes and as an option add a half banana and blend the ingredients until smooth.

\"Smoothie Recipe\"

Try experimenting with different frozen fruits and juices until you have your ideal yogurt smoothie recipe perfected. Also consider good smoothie additives such as chocolate syrup, oatflour or flaxseed flour or even peanut butter. It is important to add the smoothie ingredients in the above mentioned order for best mixing results. By using a base mixture of the juice, yogurt, frozen fruit and ice you will find that you always will get good smoothie results. Apple or pineapple juice and frozen blueberries or strawberries are always good to use.

Easy To Make Top Notch Smoothie Yogurt Recipe

You can change ingredients around to make your own healthy or diet type smoothies. Try adding ground sunflower seeds and a banana for a healthier yogurt smoothie. For a diet smoothie use non- fat yogurt, apple juice and blueberries. Supplements such as protein powder or bee pollen are great to add to create your own unique smoothie recipe.

Here is one you can try

Banana Blueberry Breakfast Smoothie

1/4 cup Pineapple juice

1/4 cup Applesauce

1/2 cup vanilla yogurt

1/2 cup fresh Blueberries

1 Tbp. ground flaxseed

2 Tbps. ground Sunflower seeds

1 frozen banana (peeled of course!)

Here is a cool tip. Use your ice cube tray to make frozen juice cubes to use in your next yogurt smoothie recipe. And also you can peel a banana and cut it into four or five pieces and place them into a freezer bag and store in the freezer to always have a smoothie ingredient on hand.

Remember to always add liquid ingredients first then yogurt and fruit and powders or supplements and ice last and you will have consistently great smoothies.

Easy To Make Top Notch Smoothie Yogurt Recipe

For more free yogurt smoothie recipes and smoothie making tips I invite you to visit this website http://www.squidoo.com/smoothieparty/

Fruit Recipes That Kids Love

Fruit is the perfect after school healthy snack for kids. Fruit is colorful and fun to eat. Getting kids to eat fruit is easy when we allow them to create their own fruit treats. The healthful snacks listed below are easy to prepare. Depending on the age of the children, they can use a blender to make their own fruit smoothie snack. The clean up after preparing this snack is also easy.

The fruits that kids often choose to eat are usually apples and bananas. This quick smoothie recipe can be made with a variety of fruits that will add variety. You can use any kind of fruit to make this healthy fruit snack.

\"Smoothie Recipe\"

The USDA "My Pyramid" recommends that children between the ages of 2 to 8, consume about 1 - 1 1/2 cups of fruit a day. For ages 9 to 13, 1 1/2 cups is recommended. American children do not consume enough fruit and vegetables. It is important that we prepare fruits in novel and interesting ways so that kids enjoy eating this important nutrient.

Fruit Recipes That Kids Love

This recipe provides one serving of fruit - A strawberry smoothie is a cool and refreshing treat. This delicious smoothie fulfills one of those fruit requirements in a healthy but delicious way.

Strawberry Smoothie

Ingredients:

*2 ice cubes

*1 cup frozen yogurt

*2/3 cup frozen strawberries

*1/2 teaspoons of sugar

*1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1) Pour all of the ingredients into the blender

2) Put the lid on the blender

3) Blend ingredients for 45 - 60 seconds until smooth

4) Pour smoothie into glass

5) Enjoy

This strawberry smoothie is so easy to make but so nutritious. Strawberries are sources of several
vitamins and minerals that children need on a daily basis.

For another delicious kid fruit snack recipe try this one with ripe bananas and everyone's favorite chocolate.

1 Fruit Serving Coconut & Chocolate Dipped Bananas

Ingredients:

*4 bananas, cut in halves

*8 Popsicle sticks

*4 bars bittersweet chocolate

*Nuts

*Toasted coconut

*Sprinkles

*Granola

Instructions:

1) Place each banana half on a stick

2) Melt the chocolate in the microwave (Stir with a spatula)

3) Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper

4) Dip bananas in the chocolate

5) Roll in the topping of your choice

6) Cool to room temperature

7) Chill leftovers in refrigerator

Bananas are full of nutrients including potassium that is an important element in a healthy menu. The bananas dipped in chocolate are especially appealing to kids. They get to play with their food, which is something children love to do.

Fruit Recipes That Kids Love

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